The Rock Island Coalition of African American Stakeholders is insisting that the City of Rock Island return The African American Civil Rights Grant to the federal government. The Rock Island Coalition of African American Stakeholders released a statement today insisting that the City of Rock Island return the African American Civil Rights Grant to the federal government for the following reasons: To the City of Rock Island, this is merely $33, 500 thousand dollars and a means to expand their economic development plan, simply a funded means to an end. However, to us, the Black Community, this is... Read More

We’ve extended the deadline for our next film project to February 1st so your students can make movies with Fresh Films every Thursday starting February 3rd! Teens who join the Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking program will create various film projects that will help prepare them for future job & education opportunities in media. They will learn film techniques, leadership and time management skills and they will leave the program with new media projects that they can add to their portfolios. We think your youth are going to love this program so we have included an email below that you can... Read More

The QCCA Expo Winterfest Car and Bike Show rumbles into the QCCA Expo Center,2624 4th Ave., Rock Island, today through Sunday. Make plans and register now for the Expo Winterfest. 3D Sound will be on hand and many exciting events and vendors will be there! For more info, see here.  Read More

Late Saturday night the south side wall of Blue Cat Brewing Co. was vandalized with graffiti. Unfortunately, the public cameras in The District courtyard could not identify the culprit. But the Blue Cat owners are determined to turn this negative into a positive. After Blue Cat co-owner Charlie Cole made a facebook post about the vandalism, local artist Atlanta Fulscher reached out and offered to cover the graffiti with her own artwork. She will be onsite around 10 am on Thursday 12/23 adding a big blue catfish to the side of the building. Other local artists have also reached out offering their... Read More

A New Year’s Eve tradition for the last nine years is back at The Speakeasy in downtown Rock Island as the theater welcomes Bottom’s Up Burlesque to ring in 2022 with an all new show!  “We’re thrilled to be continuing this tradition after having to skip last year,” said Brett Hitchcock, Speakeasy director of audience development. “The NYE shows are so popular with their fans!  They always sell out and there’s such a buzz in the theater!  It’s really fun to be part of,” said Hitchcock. Bottom’s Up will roll out the red carpet to ring... Read More

Exploding with vibrant costuming and swirling with clever choreography, Circa ‘21’s enchanting “Seussical” is an absolutely wonderful show for the whole family. Full of energy and charged with a talented and exuberant cast, it nicely captures the spirit and buoyancy of Dr. Seuss’ work and briskly unspools a smart tale germane to today while avoiding a heavy hand. “Seussical” revolves around a little girl, JoJo (Ellerie Hurley), who lives a rather banal but generally pleasant life with her straight arrow parents in a grey town. However, JoJo dreams of bigger things, and wishes for... Read More

For the theatre’s first holiday children’s musical since the winter of 2019, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse brings a beloved series of storybook characters to life with the Tony Award-nominated sensation SEUSSICAL. Running through Dec. 26, this charming, magical entertainment was praised as “85 minutes of sweetness, humor and energetic high spirits” by the New York Times and will be brought to life in Rock Island through the tremendous talents of professional stage artists. Circa ’21 will present show-only performances of SEUSSICAL on Dec. 11, 14 and 18. Doors open at 9:30... Read More

Friday, December 3, The Speakeasy located in downtown Rock Island is thrilled to welcome back the areas premiere drag show VIVA LA DIVAS with their annual Holiday Spectacular!  This special show will feature many of your favorite holiday hits performed like you’ve never seen before! The Speakeasy show cast features multiple title holders Dementia Jaide, Milange Cavalli and Justine Thyme! This outstanding show cast is the kind you would expect to see in a large market like Chicago, New York and even Las Vegas! This month’s special guest emcee is local stand-up comedian Leslie Mitchell. “Leslie... Read More

Deck the Downtowns promotions are going on NOW in Downtown Bettendorf, Davenport and Rock Island. Each downtown will promote their own unique activities encouraging people to eat, drink, shop and be merry downtown. “This is the first time the three downtowns managed by the Quad Cities Chamber have come together to showcase the businesses that make each downtown unique with Deck the Downtowns,” said Kyle Carter, VP of Place Management, Quad Cities Chamber. “There is so much to offer in each downtown during the holidays – whether it’s enjoying a holiday event with your family, date... Read More

Nest Cafe, a charitable pay-what-you-can cafe, is coming to Rock Island’s Washington Junior High tomorrow night. Nourish Everyone Sustainably Together (NEST) Café is a Pay-What-You-Can Nonprofit Restaurant, Serving Everyone, and a member of One World Everybody Eats (www.oneworldeverybodyeats.org). The Cafe announced the following on its Facebook today: HIUUUUUGE Shout out to the Rock Island/Milan School District 41 for making tomorrow night’s NEST Café meal happen at Washington Jr. High. We hope our Edison Jr. High families are healthy and that you’ll be back at school ASAP. Go... Read More